Baby-carriage



E. F. LARK.

BABY CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21; 1919.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- 1mm 7 H I z/afl F y- E. F. LARK.

BABY CARRIAGE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1919.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDW'IN LE. LARK, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BABY-CARRIAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application filed September 27, 1919. Serial No. 326,818.

T 0 all to 7mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN F. LARK, a citizen" of the United States, residing at W ashington, District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Baby-Carriages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to re hicles, and has particular application to baby carriages and the like.

The chief characteristic of the invention resides in the provision of a mechanical contrivance arranged upon the running gear of the carriage and operable to move the carriage alternately in a forward and rearward direction, with a view of sustaining a ing operable simultaneously with the means for rolling the carriage or independently thereof.

In carrying out my invention I also provide means for automatically regulating the speed with which the carriage is moved to and fro, thus eliminating the possibility of the infant being subjected to undue vibration of the carriage.

With these and other objects in view, it will appear as the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings that the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views wherein Figure l is side elevation of a baby carriage equipped with the contrivanc e fornr ing the subject matter of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through a spring motor. I y Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 4- is a plan view of the running gear of the carriage showing the contrivance associated therewith. V

Fig. 5 is a view of the clutch partly in section. i

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the governor controlling the speed of the carriage.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the connection of the operating rod with the body of the carriage.

While the invention is shown in use with a baby carriage, for which it was primarily designed and intended, I desire to-have it understood that it may be used in any other capacity found desirable. and that its gen eral application is contemplated by the claims.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 10 indicates the body of'a baby carriage which is supported by the springs 11, upon the running gear 12, in the usual well known manner. For the purpose of imparting an alter nate forward and rearward movement to the carriage, I provide the rear axle 13 with a gear wheel 1% which is loosely mounted upon the rear axle and provided with lugs '15 which cooperate with the clutch member 16 fixed upon the rear axle, for the purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. The spring 17 encircles the axle bearing against the wheel 14 and operating to hold the latter effectively in engagement with the clutch member 16 when these parts are associated. Suitably mounted above and below the gear wheel H are relatively small gear wheels 18 over which is trained the chain 19,the latter being engaged at one side bythe gear wheel 1%. Mounted upon the running gear at an appropriate point is a motor indicated generally at A. This motor may be of any suitable construction. but as shown-in this specific instance is in the nature of a spring motor including a main crank shaft 20. Pivoted at one side of the motor and at a point between its ends is an arm Qinrounted' to oscillate in a vertical plane, one end of the arm provided with an elongated slot 22 for the reception of the crank shaft 20, through the instrumentality of which the oscillating motion referred to is imparted to the arm 21. The opposite end of this arm 21 is suitably connected to the adjacent side ofthe endless chain 19, and consequently imparts an upward and downward movement to the chain when the arm 21 is in operation. The rod 24 is suitably connected with the gear wheel 14:,the rod in turn being associated wlth a lever 25 pivoted at a point in its length, to engage the running gear 12 of the carriage.- The lever 25 is provided with a handle 26 by means of which the lever can be operated to throw the gear wheel 14 into and out of engagement with the clutch member 16. The handle 26 is provided with a lug 27 adapted to engage with the notches 28 for holding the parts in a given position. By reason of the construction thus far described it is manifest that when the gear wheel 14 is moved into association with the clutch member 16 the gear 14 rotates with therear axlel3. The motor being inoperation, an oscillatory motion is imparted to the arm 21, the chain 19 being moved up and down imparting rotation to the rear axle 13 in reverse directions. Consequently the carriage is moved alternately in a forward and rearward direction for lulling an infant to sleep, thus eliminating the services of an attendant. It is of course understood that the motor is equipped with i a suitable brake by means of which the motor can be thrown into and out of operation at the will of the operator. hen it is desired to make use of the carriage 1n the ordinary manner, or in other words to move 7 the carriage continuously, in a forward direction it is only necessary to disengage the gear wheel 14 from the clutch member 16.

Fol-the purpose or preventing the carriage from'being moved to and fro beyond a certain speed, and subjecting the infantto undue vibration of the carriage, I provide a governor. for controlling the speed of the carriage under the influence of the motor. This governor is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 and includesfiexible arms 30 provided with the weights 31 which move outwardly under the effect of centrifugal force, bringing the end of the governor indicated at .32 into engagement with a brake disk 33 fixed upon the shaft 34. The governor is actuated from the motor'A by meansof an'endless 1 chain35 whichis trained over the sprocket 86 fixed upon the shaft 37 of the motor and also over a sprocket 38 fixed upon a governor shaft 34. I i i V In'addition to moving the carriage alternately in a forward and backward direction,

the con'trivance forming the subject matter of my invention is also designed to impart a rocking motion to the body 10 of the carriage. ,Forthis purpose, the running gear is provided with the brackets 39 and 40 respectively which constitute-bearings for a crank shaft 41. The crank shaft is rotated .by means of an endless'chain 42 which is trained over a sprocket 43 fixed upon the crank shaft 41, and alsov trained over a sprocket 44 fixed upon the shaft .45 of a motor A. An operating rod 46 is vertically disposed to provlde a connection between the crank portion of the shaft 41 and the body of the carriage. 10. formed with an eye 47 at one end, which receives the crank terminalsof the shaft 41,

The rod 46 is,

while the opposite end of the rod 46 is con stood. As hereinabove stated, the body 10 may be rocked through the instrumentality of the rod 46, while the carriage is being moved to and fro, providing all that is necessary to pacify the infant and sustain a lull that will tend to put the infant to sleep. However, should it be. desired to move the carriage to "and fro without rocking the body 10, this may be accomplished by simply detachingthe' rod 46 from the crank terminal of the shaft 41. The rod 46 will then remain suspended from its connection with the arm 48. Again, it is possible to impart arocking motion to the body 10 while the means for, moving the carriage to and fro is out of operation. This is accom plished by permitting the rod 46 to remain associated with the crank shaft 41, and continue the motor A in operation.

While I have shown and described what I consider the preferred embodiment of the invention, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details of'construction, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is 1. In combination with a carriage in cluding a body, a motor, means for connecting the motor with the running gear for moving the carriage to and fro, and means actuated by the motor for imparting a rocking motion to the body, and said last mentionedmeans being operable simultaneously with or independently of the said carriage moving means.

2. The combination with a carriage, a

' motor, a connection between the motorxand 'motor, a gearassociated with the rear axle {of the carriage, a chain trained over said gear, and a connection between the chain and said motorwhereby the carriage is automatically moved alternately'ina forward and rearward direction.

4. The combination with a carriage, of a motor, a gear loosely mounted upon the rear axle, a clutch for said gear, a chain trained oversaid gear and a connection between the chain and the motor wherebythe carriage is automatically moved to and'fro.

5. Thecombination' with acarriage, of a motor including a crank shaft, anarm pivoted between its ends, said arm being connected with the crank shaft, and oscillated thereby, a gear associated with the rear axle, a chain trained over said gear, and the adjacent end of said arm being connected with the chain whereby the carriage is alternately moved in a forward and rearward direction.

6. The combination with a carriage including a yieldably supported body, of a crank shaft, a motor, a connection between the motor and said crank shaft whereby the latter is rotated, an operating rod connecting the crank shaft with the body whereby rocking movement is imparted to the latter, and a cushioning means interposed between said rod and body for the purpose specified.

7. The combination with a carriage including a yieldably supported body, of a motor, a connection between the motor and running gear for alternately moving the carriage in a forward and rearward direction, a crank shaft rotated by said motor, a rod connecting the crank shaft and body whereby a rocking movement is imparted to the latter, and a connection between the motor and said running gear, whereby said body may be rocked simultaneously with or independently of any movement of the carriage as a unit.

8. The combination with a carriage including a yieldably supported body, of a motor, a connection between the motor and the running gear for moving the carriage to and fro, a crank shaft rotated by said motor, an operating rod for connecting the shaft and body for imparting a rocking motion to the latter, a cushioning means interposed be tween said rod and body, and said rod being detachably associated with said crank shaft, whereby thecarriage may be used for the purpose specified. 7

9. The combination with a carriage including a yieldably supported body, a motor,

a connection between the motor and said body whereby the latter is rocked, and yieldable means arranged beneath said body and forming part of the connection, for cushi0ning the movements of said parts.

10. The combination with a carriage, of a motor, a gear loosely mounted upon the rear axle, a clutch for said gear, and means actuated by the motor and associated with said gear to automatically move the carriage to and'fro.

11. The combination with a carriage, of a motor, a gear loosely mounted upon the rear axle, a clutch for said gear, spaced pinions, a chain trained over said pinions and said gear, and a connection between the chain and motor whereby the carriage is automatically moved to and fro.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWIN F. LARK. 

